Play Station Official Magazine - UK (2020-11)

069

REVIEW

because this is an online

multiplayer game. Counters

and parries at first seem to be

key to combat (one of Cap’s

skill trees is entirely based

on it), but in later stages

enemies can spam unblockable

attacks, meaning your only

option is to dodge, which can

feel limiting. An unblockable

attack is indicated by a red

pulse on an enemy, whereas

counterable hits glow yellow or

blue. It’s a subtle hint that can

be hard to read in the middle

of the chaotic, particle-effect-

drenched fights. Throw in

variable timing, and enemies

that can snipe at you using

ranged attacks from off-screen,

and a battle can sometimes

feel like a staggerfest. You’re

warned about off-screen ranged

attacks by a pop-up at the

side of the screen, but there’s

no warning when enemies are

simply in the distance, hovering

far away and firing at you.

All heroes have ranged

options to deal with distant

VERDICT

Above The

campaign’s

hero missions

feel wonderfully

single-player

with great set-

piece moments.

Right New

York makes

a colourful

appearance.

Ready for Miles

to swing in?

Above Good team synergy can make even high-level missions a breeze.

THE OPM BREAKDOWN

TEASE MASTERS

A lot of potential updates are

teased, from references to Captain

Marvel to Hank Pym’s presence, and

mentions of Thor’s sneaky brother.

TIME TO REWATCH

Kamala’s story has us buzzing. So

why is there no easy way to replay it?

Don’t make Destiny 2’s mistake – we

just want to dive back in.

LOVING/HATING

The Ms.-Marvel-centric campaign

is almost worth the cover price

alone. Deep hero customisation

sets the stage for a strong

online mode with plenty more to

come. Oscar Taylor-Kent

enemies (or can turn into

jetfighter-like damage machines

in the case of Thor and Iron

Man), but switching from

melee combat to over-the-

shoulder-aiming often disrupts

the flow of a fight. This

is less of a problem in the

more enclosed areas, but it’s

something that could do

with tweaking.

The game’s something of

a satisfaction rollercoaster,

then, but currently it

delights more often than

not. Crystal Dynamics has

already committed to making

improvements, engaging

with suggestions from the

community online, which is

promising to see and should

ensure the game has longevity.

IS IT BETTER THAN?

YES

This might have more

heroes but it gets

repetitive quickly, and

is less immersive than

Marvel’s Avengers.

NO

Greater focus means

this solo Spidey outing

is tighter. It could even

be the best superhero

game ever made.

YES

We still miss this online

title, but it offered the

ideas for the live

service that Marvel’s

Avengers develops.

I’m tired of how the MCU has saturated the

media landscape but Kamala Khan persuaded

me to give it one more chance. The single-player

campaign begins as her story and is all the better for it.

What can I say? Fangirls have got to stick together. Ms.

Marvel and Black Widow remain my online favourites,

even if the combat isn’t. I enjoy busting heads as much

as the next person but I’m looking forward to seeing how

the multiplayer powers up over time. Jess Kinghorn

SECOND OPINION WIDOW WANTER

3% Rolling for

hero skins and

getting yet

another

half-naked Steve

Rogers. Hooray?

12% Genuinely

tearing up at

the campaign.

Kamala’s story

will make your

heart swell.

4% Zipping

across larger

war zones to find

goodies as Thor.

10% Sorting

through your gear

tab and skill trees

and getting it all

just so.

WHAT YOU DO IN... MARVEL’S AVENGERS

6% Or slowly

double-jumping

across War

Zones as Mister

Captain America.

65%

Breaking robot

faces off bodies and

pummelling suited

baddies into

submission.

As PS4 owners will get a free upgrade to the

PS5 version, there’s no reason to wait. Like

on PS4 Pro, you’ll be able to choose between

an enhanced graphic mode or performance

(60fps/4K on PS5), plus the SSD will speed

up loading. Rumble is used effectively on PS4,

so expect even finer haptics on DualSense.

ALSO ON PLAYSTATION 5

069

REVIEW

because this is an online
multiplayer game. Counters
and parries at first seem to be
key to combat (one of Cap’s
skill trees is entirely based
on it), but in later stages
enemies can spam unblockable
attacks, meaning your only
option is to dodge, which can
feel limiting. An unblockable
attack is indicated by a red
pulse on an enemy, whereas
counterable hits glow yellow or
blue. It’s a subtle hint that can
be hard to read in the middle
of the chaotic, particle-effect-
drenched fights. Throw in
variable timing, and enemies
that can snipe at you using
ranged attacks from off-screen,
and a battle can sometimes
feel like a staggerfest. You’re
warned about off-screen ranged
attacks by a pop-up at the
side of the screen, but there’s
no warning when enemies are
simply in the distance, hovering
far away and firing at you.
All heroes have ranged
options to deal with distant

VERDICT

Above The
campaign’s
hero missions
feel wonderfully
single-player
with great set-
piece moments.

Right New
York makes
a colourful
appearance.
Ready for Miles
to swing in?

Above Good team synergy can make evenhigh-levelmissionsa breeze.

THE OPM BREAKDOWN

TEASEMASTERS

A lotofpotentialupdatesare

teased,fromreferencestoCaptain

MarveltoHankPym’spresence, and

mentionsofThor’ssneakybrother.

TIME TO REWATCH

Kamala’s story has us buzzing. So

why is there no easy way to replay it?

Don’t make Destiny 2’s mistake – we

just want to dive back in.

LOVING/HATING

The Ms.-Marvel-centric campaign

is almost worth the cover price

alone. Deep hero customisation

sets the stage for a strong

online mode with plenty more to

come. Oscar Taylor-Kent

enemies (or can turn into

jetfighter-like damage machines

in the case of Thor and Iron

Man), but switching from

melee combat to over-the-

shoulder-aiming often disrupts

the flow of a fight. This

is less of a problem in the

more enclosed areas, but it’s

something that could do

with tweaking.

The game’s something of

a satisfaction rollercoaster,

then, but currently it

delights more often than

not. Crystal Dynamics has

already committed to making

improvements, engaging

with suggestions from the

community online, which is

promising to see and should

ensure the game has longevity.

IS IT BETTER THAN?

YES

This might have more

heroes but it gets

repetitive quickly, and

is less immersive than

Marvel’s Avengers.

NO

Greater focus means

this solo Spidey outing

is tighter. It could even

be the best superhero

game ever made.

YES

We still miss this online

title, but it offered the

ideas for the live

service that Marvel’s

Avengers develops.

I’mtiredofhowtheMCUhassaturated the

media landscape but Kamala Khan persuaded

me to give it one more chance. The single-player

campaign begins as her story and is all the better for it.

What can I say? Fangirls have got to stick together. Ms.

Marvel and Black Widow remain my online favourites,

even if the combat isn’t. I enjoy busting heads as much

as the next person but I’m looking forward to seeing how

the multiplayer powers up over time. Jess Kinghorn

SECONDOPINIONWIDOWWANTER

3%Rolling for

heroskins and

gettingyet

another

half-naked Steve

Rogers. Hooray?

12%Genuinely

tearingup at

thecampaign.

Kamala’s story

willmake your

heartswell.

4%Zipping

acrosslarger

warzonestofind

goodiesasThor.

10%Sorting

throughyourgear

tab and skill trees

and getting it all

just so.

WHAT YOU DO IN... MARVEL’S AVENGERS

6% Or slowly

double-jumping

across War

Zones as Mister

Captain America.

65%

Breaking robot

faces off bodies and

pummelling suited

baddies into

submission.

AsPS4ownerswillget a free upgrade to the

PS5 version, there’s no reason to wait. Like

on PS4 Pro, you’ll be able to choose between

an enhanced graphic mode or performance

(60fps/4K on PS5), plus the SSD will speed

up loading. Rumble is used effectively on PS4,

so expect even finer haptics on DualSense.

ALSO ON PLAYSTATION 5